uncarved.org blog

General Impressions on the March

The Smiley Culture March for Justice took place the weekend before last and was a resounding success. About 1,500-2,000 people marched from Wandsworth Road to New Scotland Yard in militant but peaceful formation. My marching partner History Is Made At Night has already written his account of the day, so check that out. As he points out the marchers included families of other people who have died in police custody and also a good few portable soundsystems, giving the event both a poignant and carnival air.

The day also marked the appearance of various socialist groups, with the Socialist Workers Party manufacturing their own placards and the Socialist Party producing a special leaflet for the occasion.

The Rally and Campaign

Standing outside New Scotland Yard with a couple of thousand people whilst Buju Banton’s “Murderer” and Barrington Levy’s tune of the same name boomed out is something I will never forget.

Speakers at the rally included Merlin Emmanuel, Lee Jasper, Asher Senator, Blacker Dread, journalist and victim of police violence Jody McIntyre (links are to transcripts of speeches or thoughts on the day). Relatives of the late Sean Rigg, Julian Webster and Kingsley Burrell spoke about their campaigns for justice.

Lorna G also took to the platform. Lorna is probably best known for her Mad Professor produced hits “3 Weeks Gone” and “Gotta Find A Way” – both classics of UK dancehall MC-ing and lovers rock respectively. What I didn’t know until recently was that Lorna was the sister of Cherry Groce, who was shot by police in her home in Brixton in 1985. This was one of the contributory factors to the ’85 Brixton riots. The police officer was later cleared of all charges. Groce was paralysed from the waist down and suffered numerous other health complications. She died last Sunday.

The Justice For Smiley Culture campaign announced the following demands for reform:

• Any officer that has had somebody die whilst in their custody is immediately suspended until further notice, pending inquiry.

• No member of the IPCC can have worked for the police or any other organisation where there is a clear conflict of interest.

• Any police officer that has had somebody die whilst in their custody and there are no witnesses other than police present, take a lie detector test on oath.

• All police officers record arrests using a mobile video device, that we might have an accurate account of events should anything go wrong with suspects whilst in their custody.

Asher Senator finished the rally on a more upbeat note with a performance of his Smiley Culture tribute “Character Reference”. This story of Smiley’s career includes some of his routines and some great info on UK reggae and soundsystem history:

(Video filmed and uploaded by the Heatwave crew )

Official Campaign t-shirts are now available from THTC’s webshop.

Photo by Duncan on Flickr. Graff by unknown.

More recent developments

The Sun has once again reported one of the police officers’ version of events completely uncritically:

A Met officer said he watched in horror as Smiley, 48, plunged the blade into his own heart during a drugs bust at his home.

The singer, real name David Emmanuel, had gone into the kitchen of the mansion to make a cup of tea.

One source said of the Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry: “The officer said he was monitoring Mr Emmanuel who picked up a knife, waved it in his direction and said, ‘Do you want some?’

“A split second later Mr Emmanuel turned the blade towards himself, said ‘I do’ and stabbed himself in the chest.”

Once again an anonymous source, who seems to be privy to police evidence to the IPCC which the public is not, has briefed The Sun. The journalist responsible is an ex-police officer.

Socialist Worker (to give them full credit for a change) printed a riposte, including a response from Merlin Emmanuel:

Smiley’s nephew, Merlin Emmanuel, said he was “disgusted” by the story and condemned police leaks about his uncle’s death as “damage limitation”.

“I am perplexed by the police’s continual release of information without making a statement themselves,” he told Socialist Worker.

“The Sun has shown its true colours. It wants to impose the interests of the elite.”

Forthcoming events

There is to be a Youth For Smiley Culture event on May 7th at ULU Malet Street, London WC1 featuring grime artist (and Woofah cover star) Durrty Goodz amongst others.

There is also a talk of a major concert to raise awareness of the campaign, with venues like Wembley Arena and artists like David Bowie, Sade, Nas and Damian Marley being mentioned as possibles.

Smiley’s hit “Police Officer” has been remixed for re-issue and a compilation of tributes is being prepared featuring Maxi Priest, Sade and Asher Senator.

A march on Downing Street is also being organised.

Campaign Links

Twitter

Youtube

Facebook

A slightly odd article by Dr Perry Stanislas has appeared in The Voice entitled “Why We Must Not Rush To Judgement Over Smiley Culture’s Knife Death”.

It’s odd because it wastes no time in arguing for the case that David Emmanuel may have killed himself and pouring scorn on others who say he may have been killed by the police. Which seems to be in direct contradiction of its title.

Let me be clear here in saying that I do not know how David Emmanuel (aka Smiley Culture) died. I wasn’t there – only the police and David Emmanuel were.

Dr Stanislas also mentions his involvement with the campaign following the death of Colin Roach by a gunshot wound in Stoke Newington police station in 1983. I’ve not been able to establish the extent of his involvement because he isn’t mentioned in my main source about the case: “Policing in Hackney 1945-1983″ commissioned by The Roach Family Support Committee.

The book does not conclude that the police killed Colin Roach:

The Inquiry does not commit itself to an alternative explanation of how Colin Roach died. What it clearly and incontrovertibly shows is that he could not have died in the way the police and the inquest say he did. The Report does not say or suggest, for example, that Colin Roach was shot by the police in their own station. But it does show convincingly that he did not shoot himself with a gun which he carried into the station: which is what the police and the inquest asked us to believe.

Was Colin Roach shot by someone else, in or outside the foyer of the station? The Report does not say definitively that he was because it does not know. However, it does remind us — as the inquest did not — that this is not quite so implausible a story as it appears at first.

[...] The police are not in a position to challenge this argument, says the Report, because they never investigated it. From the first to last, the police behaved as if the ‘fact’ that Colin Roach’s death was a suicide was a foregone conclusion. The police certainly advanced an account of what they said or thought happened. But they conducted no investigation.

It seems strange to me that Dr Stanislas has come to a conclusion about the Colin Roach case which are at odds with the campaign he was involved in.

The “Policing in Hackney” book also includes details of how Colin Roach was attacked by the press dept of the Metropolitan Police and the media after his death and how people protesting about his tragic demise were persecuted by the police when marching peacefully through Hackney. That is the context in which the investigation of Colin Roach’s death took place.

Smiley Culture’s family have stated that they were not aware of any reason for him to commit suicide.

They have asked that his mysterious death be investigated properly and promptly so that the truth about it can be revealed. That is all they have asked for, and I think most people would agree that their request reasonable and proportionate.

The family of Colin Roach did not get the benefit of a proper and prompt investigation and neither have the family of Ian Tomlinson. So the Emmanuel family can hardly be blamed for being suspicious about the process, or seeking to draw attention to it so that it is subject to a high level of scrutiny.

Speculations about the cause of David Emmanuel’s death are understandable, but they – and Dr Stanislas’ article – are a sideshow.

Tero Kaski and & Pekka Vuorinen – Volcano Revisted: Kingston Dancehall Scene 1983

“208 pages, paperback, full of colours! paypal accepted”

More info here

This is a new edition of a legendary book that was originally published in the eighties. I’ve never seen a copy despite being on the hunt for ages. So I’ve ordered my copy already and am very much looking forward to getting my mitts on it…

Hit Me With Music (dir Miquel Galofre, 2011)

A new film covering more contemporary dancehall. World Premiere is at the East End Film Festival on April 30th.

More info here (and another 19 trailers on youtube!)

The festival also includes a film about Norman Jay that could be interesting.

“I’m not surprised people are suspicious”
London Mayor Boris Johnson on David Emmanuel’s death.

“Cops must be filmed to prevent deaths in custody”
Patrick Augustus

(Patrick is best known for writing the novel “Baby Father” (X-Press, 1994) which was then turned into a TV series. But he also served time in the British reggae scene.)

Some information about the (private) funeral.

The campaign for Justice for Smiley Culture (aka David Emmanuel) continues apace. It has been heartening to see the family make links with other deaths related to police activity such as that of Ian Tomlinson (who was killed by police two years ago whilst walking home during the G20 protests), and the more recent case of Kingsley Brown.

Kingsley died just two weeks after the mysterious death of Smiley Culture. He called the police to protect him and his young son. The police took him into custody instead, and admitted him to hospital in a critical condition. Kingsley Brown died on the 31st of March. His family are alleging that the police beat him prior to his arrival in hospital.

Justice 4 Kingsley Brown & Smiley Culture (AKA David Emanuel) Meeting in Birmingham

Location: The African Caribbean Millennium Centre
339 Dudley Road, Winson Green, Birmingham.B18 4HB

Email:  info@acmccentre.co.uk or phone 0121 455 6382

Time: ‎6:30PM on Friday, April 8th

“The family of Kingsley Brown will now join the  family of David Emanuel at the meeting this Friday in Birmingham. Two families united in grief . One people committed to securing justice.”

London March: 16th April, 12pm

Assemble: Southbank Club 124-130 Wandsworth Rd SW8 2DL
JUSTICE MARCH to SCOTLAND YARD, VICTORIA

Interview with Merlin Emmanuel in Socialist Worker

More tributes

“Smiley was one of the true originators of British rap-ology and will always be remembered for his unique lyrical skills.”
- David Rodigan

An interview with lovers rock singer and UK MC Lorna G has been placed on youtube.

Lorna also performed at Smiley’s nine night alongside Asher Senator:

(Part 4 of 4 – check the rest as well!)

Resources

downloadable flyers and radio advert (mp3 and wav)

Dubstep advert for the April 16th march:
Smiley Dubstep ad for justice march by Merlin Emanuel

Campaign Facebook page

Youtube channel

Justice for Smiley Culture Campaign at City Hall – and Wembley Arena!

Furious scenes at the Metropolitan Police Authority meeting at City Hall today as David Emmanuel’s death was discussed.

The disruption to the meeting was covered by both the Guardian and the Evening Standard.

The Standard’s coverage was criticised by campaigners, not least because its reporting said that protesters were “thrown out” or “evicted” from the meeting. The Guardian and other accounts from attendees including Lee Jasper and Changita stated that protesters left of their own accord, in disgust, chanting “no justice, no peace”.

It is worth putting this ‘disruption’ in context.

The MPA meeting also discussed the case of Daniel Morgan, who was killed in 1987. Nobody has been convicted for this crime. Investigation of how the case was handled revealed police corruption. 24 years later, the family of Daniel Morgan are still seeking justice and have only just received an apology.

The Emmanuel family and its supporters do not wish to wait for 24 years for their questions to be answered.

According to Lee Jasper’s account (linked above) the Emmanuel family and it supporters were blanked by Kit Malthouse, chair of the MPA (Malthouse later suggested that he didn’t know family members were present and that he will now meet them).

Questions were asked by members of the panel in the meeting about the police briefings after David Emmanuel’s death. These questions were acknowledged, but they were not answered.

There is a video of the meeting available here. The relevant bit commences at 26 minutes in, and ceases at about 32 mins with a GLA testcard. When the meeting resumes, MPA member Cindy Butts is noticeably tearful whilst chanting outside the chamber is still audible. Footage of the meeting also appears in the BBC report here.

The argument put forward is that the police have got better. If you’ve read anything about deaths in police custody in the UK you will know that wouldn’t be difficult.

Rodigan wearing a Smiley Culture t-shirt at Wembley

Tonight also saw one of the largest reggae concerts for some time in London, with Nas and Damien Marley taking to the stage at Wembley Arena.

Support acts Spragga Benz and David Rodigan both payed tribute to Smiley Culture, with Roddy donning a Smiley Culture t-shirt and pointing to it whilst busting out Buju Banton’s “Murderer”.

Apparently the last tune played tonight by a DJ, as the audience left, was Smiley’s “Police Officer”.

Finally, a reminder that the campaign’s official facebook page is here and twitter feed is here.

You’ll probably know Beth from Dancehall: The Story of Jamaican Dancehall Culture, the lavish book of her photographs published by Soul Jazz, or her book on King Jammy – or even from Reggae Quarterly back in the day.

Shimmy Shimmy have just published a fascinating interview with Beth which covers the creation of all those publications, but more crucially than that goes into detail about the time she spent around studios and dances in JA in the halycon days of the eighties.

I also just received news today that Small Axe have published Beth’s new book The Legend of Sugar Minott and Youth Promotion, which I have no doubt will be just as essential as her previous works.

Click the link above for more details, as well as info on their new Guide to Reggae 1968-1970 which I’ve not got, and their Guide to Dub LPs which I do have and is most definitely recommended.

The Emmanuel family has announced that the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Policing Authority will be speaking about David Emmanuel’s death tomorrow:

The MPA Commissioner will be speaking about the death of Smiley Culture tomorrow, the 31st March at 10am at City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 2AA.

We need to be there in numbers. Please promote. Lee Jasper and Merlin Emanuel will be attending. We ask you to come along and to encourage others to do so. We need to let them know we mean business.

Please tweet this, email the information to friends, post it on your FaceBook pages and do whatever you can to spread the word. We know it’s short notice so we really need your help on this.

Thank you for your support.

No Justice No Peace!

If you can’t it, please put the march to Scotland Yard in your diaries for the 16th of April.

A pdf concerning the march to Scotland Yard on April 16th was also released today.

It’s in pdf format so people can print it out and distribute it as a leaflet. The text is very interesting and I would urge you to read it.

Also today, the Croydon Guardian has reported that a Detective Constable Stuart Hobkirk has sworn under oath that Smiley Culture stabbed himself.

A great interview with UK hip hop artist Ty on what Smiley Culture and soundsystems like Saxon and Coxsone Outernational meant to him when growing up in South London:

Ty and Roots Manuva (featured on Soul Jazz and The Heatwave’s essential “An England Story” compilation):

(Original LP released by Santic in 1974)

“London was more forward as well because music that was recorded back home… some of them were reaching here long before they were released in Kingston. I put together the ‘Harder Shade Of Black’ album in London from the singles and put it out with Bert… I never knew I was going to release an album! The lady on the cover is my first wife. She’s the mother of three of my kids. I actually took the photograph myself. It’s Downs Park in East London…”

Leonard Chin – quote from the sleevenotes of the reissued version by Pressure Sounds.

“Hackney-ites – seckle! Stoke Newington – seckle, Tottenham posse – easy! Finsbury Park and Wood Green posse – easy!”

Hackney Downs was also the site of an open air soundsystem session in 1985 by Sirena Hi-Fi featuring guest appearances from Saxon MCs Tippa Irie, the late Miss Irie, Papa Levi and Daddy Colonel as well as Cinderella, Chargan and Banton Irie.

You should still be able to download the audio from this session at Who Cork The Dance. Someone else sent this to me a while back, but I’ve forgotten who it was – so apologies and thanks to them. Saxon do what they do best here – tuff lyrics over Studio One and other riddims – marred by the odd technical problem. You can hear Tippa’s take on the Heysel Stadium disaster (May 1985), so the dance must have been after that… (includes mild homophobia and general slackness)

It also looks like Saxon played Hackney Downs the year before in August 1984. There is video of this floating around but it’s a huge file so I dunno if my rubbish connection will cope. If a kind person could stick it on youtube or something that would be great.

It’s also likely that some of north east London’s reggae, jungle or hip hop stars were educated at Hackney Downs school…